This document outlines the background check requirements and processes for child care providers in South Carolina. It discusses that fingerprint-based criminal background checks through IdentoGo as well as central registry and sex offender registry checks are required for all staff and registered family members prior to employment. Checks are generally completed within 24-48 hours. The document also proposes a new credential under ABC Quality that would still require full background checks and training but may exempt some physical site requirements to increase access to child care, particularly in rural areas.

1. Leigh Bolick
May 29, 2014

2.  Child Abuse Checks (Central
Registry) - $8.00
 Sex Offender Registry Checks – no
charge
 Criminal History Checks - $43.00
 Required for all staff prior to
employment
 Volunteers are excepted, but may
not be left alone with children or
counted in ratios
 In homes, checks are required of
all family members aged 15 and
over

3.  State and FBI
 Live Scan Digital Fingerprinting
through IdentoGo
 Online scheduling 24/7, English
and Spanish
 Call center scheduling during the
work week
 Provider selects agency’s ORI
number
 Provider enters a licensing facility
ID number that begins with “cc”

4.  Central Registry and Sex Offender
Checks performed by licensing staff
 Office of Investigations staff
receive fingerprint information and
make the work determination,
assisted by attorneys
 Data is linked to child care licensing
system
 Checks generally completed in 24-
48 hours
 Able to accommodate emergency
requests

5.  Sworn statement from caregiver
 SLED check (name and DOB) -
$25.00
 Central Registry Check and Sex
Offender Check must be
completed by DSS in 2 business
days
 Must be directly supervised
 Employment repealed if written
requests not received by DSS the
next business day
 Penalties for violations (12m, 24m,
rights suspended during appeal)

7.  Application and self-certification
(parents and providers)
 Central Registry Checks (Licensing)
 Sex Offender Checks (Licensing)
 Pilot testing announced Health and
Safety visits, with instrument and
incentives
 Pairing voucher staff with ABC
Quality staff

8.  Application and documentation
 Unannounced Health and Safety
Visits
 Public Schools
 Boys and Girls Clubs
 YMCA’s
 Parks and Recreation centers

9.  Registered Family Home
Application and self-certification
 Sex Offender Registry Checks
 Central Registry Checks
 Criminal Background Check within
30 days
 Training – online orientation and
one on one with monitor within 30
days
 Health and Safety Visits twice a
year

10.  New Credential Under ABC Quality
 Would include most important
aspects of licensing
 Would require full background
checks, ratios, training
 Would exempt some physical site
requirements in licensing
(bathrooms)
 Would continue unannounced
health and safety visits

11.  Want to avoid political pushback
 Want to ensure that parents have
resources available to them
 Have concern about parents’
ability to find care needed to work,
particularly in rural areas
 Have concern that TANF
participation rates will be
negatively impacted

12.  Leigh Bolick
 Leigh.bolick@dss.sc.gov
 803-898-7134